Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Zanmuroar’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Zanmuroar’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and uniformly spherical plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit; dense and full plant habit; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; decorative-type inflorescences with ray florets that are dark red in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ZANMUROAR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum X morifolium, commercially referred to as a Garden Mum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Zanmuroar’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform spherically-shaped and early flowering Chrysanthemum plants with decorative-type inflorescences and attractive ray floret coloration.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination in November, 2015 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number 13-0323, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number 13-0328, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in July, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings was first conducted in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands since September, 2016. Asexual reproduction by vegetative terminal cuttings has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Zanmuroar’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Zanmuroar’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and uniformly spherical plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and full plant habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Long flowering period.     -   6. Decorative-type inflorescences with ray florets that are dark         red in color.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the female selection parent. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are darker and more purplish red in color than ray florets of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the male selection parent. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are darker red in color than ray florets of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can also be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Zanmufive’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,791. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘Zanmufive’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are smaller than plants of         ‘Zanmufive’.     -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are darker red         in color than ray florets of plants of ‘Zanmufive’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Zanmuroar’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of developing and fully developed inflorescences from typical flowering plants of ‘Zanmuroar’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 17-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands under natural daylengths during the summer and autumn and under cultural practices generally used in commercial Chrysanthemum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15C to 25C and night temperatures ranged from 8C to 15C. Plants were 16 weeks from planting when the photograph was taken and the detailed description was taken on plants from 14 to 20 weeks after planting. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Zanmuroar’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code number             13-0323, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code number             13-0328, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six to eight days at             temperatures about 12C to 23C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 12 to 13             days at temperatures about 12C to 23C.         -   Root description.—Thin, fibrous; typically close to 164D in             color; actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Appearance.—Perennial decorative-type Chrysanthemum; stems             upright and outwardly spreading giving a uniformly rounded             appearance to the plant; plants spherical in overall shape;             very freely branching habit, about six to seven primary             lateral branches develop, each primary lateral branch with             about eight to nine secondary branches; dense, bushy and             full plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and             moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 28 cm to 30 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 40 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15 cm to 18 cm. Diameter:             About 2 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 30 to 45 degrees             from vertical. Texture and luster: Pubescent; longitudinally             ridged; matte. Color: Close to 138B; with development,             becoming closer to 199D.         -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 2 cm             to 6 cm. Width: About 0.5 cm to 3.5 cm. Shape: Elliptic to             broadly elliptic. Apex: Acute, pointed. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Palmately lobed, sinuses between lateral lobes             divergent and deep. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Pubescent; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Pubescent; matte. Venation: Palmate and pinnate.             Color: Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 136A; venation, close to 147D. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 136C; venation,             close to 148D. Petioles: Length: About 5 mm to 11 mm.             Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte.             Color, upper surface: Close to 147D. Color, lower surface:             Close to 148D. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form;             inflorescences borne on terminals above foliar plane; ray             florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum; inflorescences             facing upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—Fragrant, pungent and aromatic.         -   Flowering response.—Early flowering habit and long flowering             period; under natural season conditions, plants flower from             weeks 35/36 to week 40 in The Netherlands.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good color             and substance for about three weeks in an outdoor nursery;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit; about             240 to 260 inflorescences develop per plant.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 6 mm. Diameter: About             6 mm. Shape: Rounded. Texture and luster: Pubescent;             slightly glossy. Color: Close to 138A to 138B.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth (height).—About 2.5 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—About 8 mm; inconspicuous.         -   Receptacle diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Receptacle height.—About 3 mm.         -   Receptacle shape.—Domed.         -   Receptacle color.—Close to 138D.         -   Ray florets.—Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About             180 to 200 ray florets arranged in about ten whorls. Length,             developing: About 1.2 cm. Length, developed: About 2 cm to             2.8 cm. Width, developing: About 2 mm. Width, developed:             About 4 mm. Shape, developing and developed: Elliptic. Apex,             developing: Acute, pointed. Apex, developed: Emarginate.             Base, developing and developed: Attenuate. Margin,             developing and developed: Entire; not undulate. Aspect,             developing and developed: Mostly flat. Texture and luster,             developing and developed, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Texture and luster, developing and             developed, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to 187B. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 184A. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 185A; venation, close to 185A; color becoming             closer to 182B with subsequent development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 181A; venation, close to 181A; color             becoming closer to 182C with subsequent development.         -   Disc florets.—Number of disc florets per inflorescence:             About 20 disc florets massed at the center of the             receptacle. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape:             Tubular, elliptic. Apex: Dentate. Base: Attenuate and fused.             Margin: Entire. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 145C; towards the             apex, close to 11D. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 145C; towards the apex, close to 11D.         -   Phyllaries.—Number of phyllaries per inflorescence: About 18             to 21 phyllaries arranged in about three whorls. Length:             About 4 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:             Acute, pointed. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Pubescent; matte. Color, upper             surface: Close to 143A. Color, lower surface: Close to 138A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 5 cm. Length,             third peduncle: About 2.5 cm. Diameter, terminal peduncle:             About 2 mm. Diameter, third peduncle: About 1 mm. Strength:             Moderately strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Mostly             upright. Aspect, third peduncle: About 30 degrees from             lateral branch axis. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte.             Color: Close to 138B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Not observed. Gynoecium:             Number of pistils per ray floret: One. Pistil length: About             3 mm. Style length: About 2.5 mm. Style color: Close to             149C. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Forked.             Stigma color: Close to 12A. Ovary color: Close to 149C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     demonstrated good garden performance and will tolerate temperatures     ranging from about 4C to about 30C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Zanmuroar’ as illustrated and described. 